Dillon Basketball

Dillon Basketball - Quick Information Guide

The Dillon Youth Basketball League is entering its 47th season. The program is a partnership between the Princeton Recreation Department and Princeton University. All of the volunteer coaches are made up of Princeton University students and PRD staff. The level of coaching/basketball experience of these volunteers varies widely, however, there is a very limited practice/teaching element to this program. The Recreation Department will have adult supervisors on site at all scheduled games and team shoot-arounds/practices. In the event a University coach can not attend a game, a PRD staff member will serve as a fill-in coach. Please understand due to the facility schedule we receive from the University, we often play our games over academic breaks and there will be several games the coaches may not be on campus for. In that event, a PRD staff member will coach. The Dillon League is recreational in nature. All players will play in every game regardless of their skill level or whether they have attended the informal practice sessions. The Dillon League is about playing the game and having fun while doing it. While the skill levels may vary within each team, coaches are mandated to play everyone.

Individuals that play for their High School Varsity or JV team may not compete in the Dillon League. We encourage you to register your child in advance for the Dillon League in order to reserve your spot. In the event that you register for the Dillon Youth Basketball Program and your child makes their high school JV or Varsity team, a full refund will be provided in this instance.

Registration - (Begins 10/9/17)

Only Princeton residents and nonresidents that attend a school located within the geographical boundaries of Princeton may register for the program. Nonresidents may be accepted later if there are still available spots. Residency is based on where you pay property tax. Mailing address does not equal residency.

Registration will begin on October 9, 2017. The deadline to register is November 17th, 2017. Space in the program is limited and you are not guaranteed a spot. Teams fill up on a first-come, first-serve basis or via the registration deadline, whichever comes first. Once the division limit has been reached, a waiting-list will be started for all other players. We are not able to honor teammate requests. We will do our best to put siblings of the same gender on the same team if they play in the same division.

Game Schedule

Games are played at Dillon Gym on the campus of Princeton University on Saturday mornings starting 12/2.The game schedule is based primarily on the Princeton University academic calendar and the availability of the facility. Occasionally, games are played on a weeknight at one of the local school gyms in Princeton. Dillon is open to students in grades 4 - 10. There are no exceptions to the grade policy. Players are separated into the following three divisions:

4th/5th grade boys - games to be played at 8:45 am

6th-7th grade boys - games to be played at 9:45 am

8th-10th grade boys - games to be played at 10:45 am

Girls Division (All Grades) - games to be played at 10:45 am

(Depending on registration numbers, staff reserves the right to combine divisions based on enrollment.)

Due to gym floor renovation at the Dillon Gymnasium, some games will be played on weeknights at Princeton Public Schools. Please check the schedule for December game locations, dates and times.

Each team will have the opportunity for an informal practice/shootaround session (one night/once per practice week) throughout the course of the season. This schedule is based on the availability of gym space, as well as the Princeton University academic calendar. Teams will not practice every single week, however, the day & time of each team's practice will remain the same throughout the season. Parents/Players do not get to choose their time slot. Time slots are 45 minutes long.

For further information, please contact the Princeton Recreation Department at 921-9480 or contact John Groeger: jgroeger@princetonnj.gov

E-mail updates are sent often....check your inbox

Most of the communication about the Dillon basketball league takes place through e-mail and through our website. Please check your inbox often! If you are not receiving regular e-mail updates from us, we may have the incorrect email in our system for you. If this is the case and you want to get the e-mails, please e-mail John Groeger with your correct address.

*Update on Drop-Off Policy at Dillon Gym*

Princeton University's Department of Public Safety has issued a new directive as it relates to the Dillon Basketball Program and other similar groups. Public Safety will no longer be allowing cars to drive onto campus and drop off participants or park in front of Dillon Gym. Participants in the Dillon Basketball program must either park in the Parking Garage near Baker Rink and walk to Dillon Gym or park off-campus and walk onto campus. Participants should not attempt to drive to the guard booth on Elm Drive and request permission to drop off or park in front of Dillon Gym. The Recreation Department and the Dillon Basketball Program are guests on the university campus and it is important that we comply with all Princeton University policies. The Recreation Department appreciates your cooperation in this matter.